Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the associations between brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), exposure and circulating immune markers in a subset of women from the California Teachers Study cohort.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, serum from 813 female parti...

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Main Authors: Emily L. Cauble, Peggy Reynolds, Marta Epeldegui, Priyanthi S. Dassanayake, Larry Magpantay, Daniel Blyakher, Pratima Regmi, Julie Von Behren, Otoniel Martinez-Maza, Debbie Goldberg, Emma S. Spielfogel, James V. Lacey, Sophia S. Wang
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Epidemiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fepid.2025.1452934/full
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author Emily L. Cauble
Peggy Reynolds
Marta Epeldegui
Marta Epeldegui
Marta Epeldegui
Priyanthi S. Dassanayake
Larry Magpantay
Daniel Blyakher
Pratima Regmi
Julie Von Behren
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Debbie Goldberg
Emma S. Spielfogel
James V. Lacey
Sophia S. Wang
author_facet Emily L. Cauble
Peggy Reynolds
Marta Epeldegui
Marta Epeldegui
Marta Epeldegui
Priyanthi S. Dassanayake
Larry Magpantay
Daniel Blyakher
Pratima Regmi
Julie Von Behren
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Debbie Goldberg
Emma S. Spielfogel
James V. Lacey
Sophia S. Wang
author_sort Emily L. Cauble
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo evaluate the associations between brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), exposure and circulating immune markers in a subset of women from the California Teachers Study cohort.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, serum from 813 female participants in the California Teachers Study collected in 2013–2016 were evaluated for 11 BFR congeners and 16 immune markers. Three BFR congeners [BDE153 [2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromodiphenyl ether], BDE47 [2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether], PBB153 [2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromobiphenyl]] had median levels that were above the level of detection and were further evaluated for associations with circulating immune markers. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by a logistic regression model where BFR congeners (in quartiles) were associated with immune markers (dichotomized as above and below the respective median), adjusted for age and total lipids. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted evaluating BFR congeners as a continuous exposure (per pg/ml).ResultsAll participants had at least one of the 11 measured BFR congeners detected in their serum. Increasing levels of BDE47 were associated with elevated levels of BAFF (B-cell activating factor; ORQuartile 4 = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.11–2.51), soluble CD27 (sCD27, cluster of differentiation 27; ORQuartile 4 = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.12–2.55) and IL6 (interleukin 6; ORQuartile 4 = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.13–2.66). Increasing levels of PBB153 were associated with elevated levels of CXCL13 (chemokine ligand 13; ORQuartile 4 = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.02–2.35) but inversely associated with sCD27 (ORQuartile 4 = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38–0.87). Results from continuous models of BFR were largely consistent. No associations were observed between BDE153 and any of the immune markers assessed.ConclusionsTwo BFR congeners were statistically associated with altered levels of circulating immune markers involved in B cell activation pathways; replication and further evaluation of these novel associations are warranted. If confirmed, our results add to the current literature regarding possible immune mechanisms by which BFR exposures contribute to immune-related health endpoints and conditions where B cell activation is prominent, including autoimmune conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-5d4bcc5ef12e409e8d0554fb8dd51fe02025-08-20T03:42:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Epidemiology2674-11992025-03-01510.3389/fepid.2025.14529341452934Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers StudyEmily L. Cauble0Peggy Reynolds1Marta Epeldegui2Marta Epeldegui3Marta Epeldegui4Priyanthi S. Dassanayake5Larry Magpantay6Daniel Blyakher7Pratima Regmi8Julie Von Behren9Otoniel Martinez-Maza10Otoniel Martinez-Maza11Otoniel Martinez-Maza12Debbie Goldberg13Emma S. Spielfogel14James V. Lacey15Sophia S. Wang16Division of Health Analytics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United StatesDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesJonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesUCLA AIDS Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United StatesDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesJonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesUCLA AIDS Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United StatesDivision of Health Analytics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United StatesDivision of Health Analytics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United StatesDivision of Health Analytics, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United StatesObjectiveTo evaluate the associations between brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), exposure and circulating immune markers in a subset of women from the California Teachers Study cohort.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, serum from 813 female participants in the California Teachers Study collected in 2013–2016 were evaluated for 11 BFR congeners and 16 immune markers. Three BFR congeners [BDE153 [2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromodiphenyl ether], BDE47 [2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether], PBB153 [2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromobiphenyl]] had median levels that were above the level of detection and were further evaluated for associations with circulating immune markers. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by a logistic regression model where BFR congeners (in quartiles) were associated with immune markers (dichotomized as above and below the respective median), adjusted for age and total lipids. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted evaluating BFR congeners as a continuous exposure (per pg/ml).ResultsAll participants had at least one of the 11 measured BFR congeners detected in their serum. Increasing levels of BDE47 were associated with elevated levels of BAFF (B-cell activating factor; ORQuartile 4 = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.11–2.51), soluble CD27 (sCD27, cluster of differentiation 27; ORQuartile 4 = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.12–2.55) and IL6 (interleukin 6; ORQuartile 4 = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.13–2.66). Increasing levels of PBB153 were associated with elevated levels of CXCL13 (chemokine ligand 13; ORQuartile 4 = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.02–2.35) but inversely associated with sCD27 (ORQuartile 4 = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38–0.87). Results from continuous models of BFR were largely consistent. No associations were observed between BDE153 and any of the immune markers assessed.ConclusionsTwo BFR congeners were statistically associated with altered levels of circulating immune markers involved in B cell activation pathways; replication and further evaluation of these novel associations are warranted. If confirmed, our results add to the current literature regarding possible immune mechanisms by which BFR exposures contribute to immune-related health endpoints and conditions where B cell activation is prominent, including autoimmune conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fepid.2025.1452934/fullbrominated flame retardants (BFRs)polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congenerscytokinesimmune responsesinflammatory markerswomen
spellingShingle Emily L. Cauble
Peggy Reynolds
Marta Epeldegui
Marta Epeldegui
Marta Epeldegui
Priyanthi S. Dassanayake
Larry Magpantay
Daniel Blyakher
Pratima Regmi
Julie Von Behren
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Otoniel Martinez-Maza
Debbie Goldberg
Emma S. Spielfogel
James V. Lacey
Sophia S. Wang
Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study
Frontiers in Epidemiology
brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners
cytokines
immune responses
inflammatory markers
women
title Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study
title_full Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study
title_fullStr Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study
title_full_unstemmed Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study
title_short Associations between brominated flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and immune responses among women in the California Teachers Study
title_sort associations between brominated flame retardants including polybrominated diphenyl ethers and immune responses among women in the california teachers study
topic brominated flame retardants (BFRs)
polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners
cytokines
immune responses
inflammatory markers
women
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fepid.2025.1452934/full
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